Circular Quay Civic Precinct Concept

Introduction

Circular Quay, at the head of Sydney Cove, has been the focal point for the interface between the town and the harbour since the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. Prior to this time, it was Gadigal people and others from the Eora Nation who congregated here. They recognised the benefits of this beautiful cove with its abundance of food and fresh water. The quay was thereafter, commercially developed in phases from the 1830s until the 1860s to allow for commercial shipping to berth alongside wharves and warehouses that once dominated all three sides. From the later 1890s and after the formation of the Sydney Harbour Trust in 1900 ferry commuter wharves came to dominate. From this time Circular Quay grew as a commuting hub, with both ferries and trams terminating here. The construction of a railway station as part of this transport network was the next logical step in the quay’s development. From the 1960s and 1970s, with the construction of the Overseas Passenger Terminal nearby and the Sydney Opera House, Circular Quay also grew in prominence as a tourist destination. It is now time it became a prominent civic precinct for the city. Linking Barangaroo and the Botanical Gardens, it could become the world-class public domain that Sydney is lacking.

A bold idea

This bold idea is based on the assumption that it is politically vexing and therefore highly unlikely that the Cahill Expressway will ever be re-routed or demolished to open up the interface between the city and the harbour. In reality, the Cahill Expressway does not actually need to be re-routed or demolished to create a powerful civic precinct if a visionary approach to this design challenge is considered.

If the assumption is granted, one visionary approach is to create a new interface between the harbour (water) and the city (land), by reclaiming an appropriate area (approximately 100 – 150m from the existing promenade) from Sydney Cove and transforming it into landscaped public open space. The new civic space will be framed between a restored Circular Quay Railway Station building to the south and a newly created Ferry Terminal and wharfs to the north. These two transport interchanges can be linked with an underground commuter pedestrian link with underground retail concessions and public amenities. The historically significant Circular Quay Railway Building can then be restored to its full potential as a backdrop to the new public open space. The Customs House Forecourt and steps will be the transition from the CBD to the new civic/public space. Consultation with the the traditional custodians, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, regarding protection of archeological elements and aboriginal sites would be crucial to any widely accepted proposal for this site.

Features

Provide a feature shell ‘tunnel’ over the Cahill Expressway and Railway Station building as an architectural reference to the shells and sails of the Opera House. The roof form of the new Ferry Terminal and wharfs would also reference the Opera House and the new feature tunnel over the Cahill Expressway.

Provide light rail or extend City Circle from this new transport link towards the west to service Barangaroo. Create and reinvigorate pedestrian links to The Opera House, Customs House forecourt, The Botanical Gardens, The Rocks and Barangaroo.

The built environment of the Northern CBD has already reclaimed large parts of Sydney Cove tidal marshes that would have been seen by Captain Arthur Phillip in 1788.

The size of the reclamation envisaged in the accompanying drawings is approximately two AFL ovals in size.

Site Plan

Site Plan of Sydney Cove

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T01 View

CAD generated view from MCA Building

Narrandera NSW – Teloca House

Project Description

Teloca House serves a community of 7,500 people in the Shire of Narrandera. The town itself is on the Murrumbidgee River and is strategically situated at the junction of the Newell and Sturt Highways, and is thus on main routes between Sydney and Adelaide and Melbourne and Brisbane.

Teloca House is a low care residential aged facility currently with 45 beds, located in Audley St, Narrandera. Teloca House provides permanent and respite beds for the aged and frail members of the Narrandera community. Teloca House was built by the community in 1987, originally housing 12 people, and has increased in size over the years. Teloca House is within walking distance to the main shopping district. Services available include podiatry, hairdressing, community transport, taxi service. All rooms are single rooms with private ensuites. Couples can be catered for with adjoining rooms. There are 2 communal dining rooms, and a large activities room. Teloca House boasts a modern laundry and kitchen facility.

The design brief and challenges that were addressed.

The design of the aged care residential service should impart a friendly and inviting environment. A non-institutional, safe and supportive environment needs to be promoted. Whilst the aim should be to keep the scale of the building ‘domestic’, care should be taken to ensure practical considerations are addressed, including the need for ease of movement and the avoidance of congestion. The appropriate use of ‘private’ and ‘communal’ spaces also needs to be considered.

Building design must be flexible and adaptable to enable the service to cater for varying resident and service needs and future service delivery changes. The aesthetic outcomes of the design should take into consideration the building’s function, surrounding environment and community consultation. An energy efficient and passive solar design will provide an economically and environmentally sustainable facility. It must present an image and a reality of accessibility to all members of the community.

In general, the built environment should be designed and constructed in a manner which promotes a domestic environment which is cost effective in both capital and recurrent terms. Simple straight forward solutions should be encouraged for flexibility of accommodation, ease of construction and effective work practices. Wherever possible the design and structure should involve the use of local trades and materials and Australian products.

Project Team

Architect: Mark G Golden & Associates

Structural & Civil Engineer: Xeros Kendall Pty Ltd

Electrical Engineer: Building Services Group

Hydraulic Engineer: Building Services Group

Mechanical Engineer: Building Services Group

Landscape Architect: Somewhere Landscape Architects

Wagga Wagga – Sustainable Design Home

A concept for a proposed new home in Wagga Wagga showing some CAD generated images to study different materials and form. Orientation for solar access and natural light to living areas, as well as taking advantage of spectacular views over Lake Albert were uppermost of the sustainable design incorporated into this design. Cross ventilation and good thermal mass and insulation were crucial design features as well.

 

Wagga Wagga – St Joseph’s Primary School

Project Brief & Description

The redevelopment was required following a fire in early 2008 that caused destruction and damage to a large part of the school building. Redevelopment continued through to include the addition of a new Library as part of the Building the Education Revolution (BER) economic stimulus package implemented following the Global Financial Crisis in 2008. The budget for the reconstruction was limited to the replacement costs determined by the insurers and their assessors. The school wanted to upgrade the existing classrooms and facilities that had not changed since they were originally built. The new facilities were to be brought up to date to accommodate the latest technologies used in contemporary pedagogy advancements.

Design Proposal Description

The solution we proposed was to audit and evaluate the previous uses of the buildings and to configure the new spatial requirements into the existing footprint area. All classrooms were increased in size to the current standard. Circulation areas were made more efficient and under-utilised facilities such as the internal school hall were put to better usage.

View 10

CAD Generated View from Johnston Street

Project Team

Architect: Mark G Golden & Associates

Structural & Civil Engineer: Xeros Kendall Pty Ltd

Electrical Engineer: Toni Mury & Associates

Hydraulic Engineer: Building Services Group

Mechanical Engineer: Building Services Group

Building Contractor: ICG Constructions Pty Ltd

Landscape Architect: Somewhere Landscape Architects

Wagga Wagga – New Entrance and Stair

Project & Site Description.

The challenge for this project was to add some treatment to an unadorned, two-dimensional façade and to integrate some privacy and sun protection to the existing windows. The residence did not have a ‘sense of arrival’ for visitors nor did it have access from the street below. The building had only recently been completed, so there was not a lot of sense in making major changes to the existing structure.

 

Design Proposal Description.

Our solution to this challenge was reached after a number of photographic studies and CAD generated views of possible options were considered by our clients. By highlighting the vertical elements with the new colour scheme and entrance door porch and accentuating the depth of the façade with shading from decorative window hoods, the street face was transformed into a geometric composition that acknowledged the surrounding homes. The street access stair was centred on the front door and canopy and the main axis of the house. Masonry construction was used where the stair sits on the rocky sloe and steel components were used where the stair transitions to the footpath level. Gabion walls were used where retaining was needed and these also acknowledged the gabon walls at the rear of the property.

 

Wagga Wagga NSW – Accessible Viewing Platform

View.10

Ground Level View

 

A concept plan to explore the possibility of constructing a universally accessible multi-level viewing platform at Willans Hill in Wagga Wagga NSW. The proposal was for a 6 storey, 20.530m high viewing platform with off-set plates at each level, resulting in a dynamic twisted structure that gave level viewing platforms at each level towards all points of the compass. The centre plates would be accessible and provide amenities, shelter and respite areas for visitors.

 

Moulamein NSW – Edward River Gardens

Project & Site Description

This project is for the construction of a 16-bed residential aged care facility for a community-based association, managed by a committee made up of dedicated volunteers from a local town and district in the Riverina.

The committee has decided to redevelop the existing weatherboard ‘hostel’ in two stages, to create a 16-bed facility to accommodate low care residents from the local town and surrounding community. By creating a facility that is unique in the district, the committee hopes to entice locals to remain in the community when the need for residential aged care arises, rather than having to move away from the support of family and friends to aged care facilities in often distant and larger regional centres. The viability of many smaller towns in the future will rely heavily on communities being able to attract, retain and support the growing aging population in well-designed, efficient and economical facilities.

Consequently, the brief for this project includes a very strong emphasis on the incorporation of energy efficiency and sustainability measures and the use of high quality and low maintenance construction methods and materials. Ongoing running and maintenance costs will need to be kept as low as possible in the future as the level of aged care funding diminishes due to demands on Commonwealth Government budgets

The energy efficiency and sustainability measures incorporated into the project building services include the use of a geothermal water-cooled reverse cycle air-conditioning installation and a roof mounted 3okW photo-voltaic array for electricity production.

 

Design Proposal Description

An important feature of the project that addresses the brief is the use of a ‘reverse brick veneer’ construction for the external walls. Along with the use of internal brick wall partitions, this approach locates the bulk of the thermal mass on the inside skin and within the habitable areas and helps to maintain the efficiency of any heating or cooling that is introduced into the facility for the residents comfort.

It is also beneficial to integrate a ventilated and insulated cavity in the external skin of the external wall to assist with reducing the transfer of excessive heat and cold from the outside air temperature, that can vary from -5˚C to in excess of 40˚C. The masonry-like appearance of many of the cladding options also blends seamlessly into the streetscape and the appearance of adjacent homes that contain the full palette of brickwork, stone and rendered finishes.

 

Project Team

Architect: Mark G Golden & Associates

Structural & Civil Engineer: Xeros Piccolo Pty Ltd

Electrical Engineer: Building Services Group

Hydraulic Engineer: Building Services Group

Mechanical Engineer: Building Services Group

Building Contractor: Chris Wright Constructions

Surveyor: Price Merrett Consulting

Landscape Architect: Somewhere Landscape Architects

Junee – Parish Village

Concept scheme for a parish based retirement village. Two bedroom villas with solar access to living areas.

 

Wagga Wagga – Lilier Lodge

Project and Site Description

Lilier Lodge is a home away from home for country people affected by cancer and their carers. It was built by Can Assist and Cancer Council NSW with the support of regional communities, and is operated by Can Assist. Lilier Lodge accommodates 40 guests and offers special support during a very stressful period. The Lodge also provides a drop-in service for country people who travel daily for treatment. Lilier Lodge offers self catering, home style bed and breakfast accommodation.

Design Proposal Description

The design should impart a friendly and inviting environment. A non-institutional, safe and supportive environment needs to be promoted. Whilst the aim should be to keep the scale of the building ‘domestic’, care should be taken to ensure practical considerations are addressed, including the need for ease of movement and the avoidance of congestion. The appropriate use of ‘private’ and ‘communal’ spaces also needs to be considered.

Project Team

Project Manager: Award Project Managers & Building Consultants

Architect: Mark G Golden & Associates

Structural & Civil Engineer: Xeros Kendall

Electrical Engineer: Toni Mury & Associates

Hydraulic Engineer: LHO Group

Mechanical Engineer: Building Services Group

Building Contractor: N W Bland & Sons Pty Ltd

Landscape Architect: Tract

 

Wagga Wagga – Federation Home

Project & Site Description.

Situated on a Central Wagga block this ‘late Federation era’ residence needed alterations and additions to transform it into a modern and functional home. The scale and character of the existing building were features that the owners wanted to maintain and enhance in the new construction.

Design Proposal Description.

Our solution involved partial demolition of some of the existing utility areas and the addition of new construction that copied the details of the existing building. This included new window canopies and eaves beam detailing to match. Internally, the room proportions that are prominent in the existing building were respected while giving a functional layout to the new kitchen and utility areas.

Wagga Wagga – Federation Home